Historic Hertford preserves tradition while embracing the future
About 15 miles southwest of Elizabeth City, Hertford is a walkable town undergoing revitalization. This community overlooking the Perquimans River has a slow-paced lifestyle with about 2,000 residents surrounded by farmland. “It’s very small and quaint with a cute, country charm,” says Dawn Young, founder of Asher RE LLC and real estate agent who sells in Hertford. “We’re still growing cotton, soybeans and corn; it’s still a major agricultural area. The shirt you’re wearing may contain cotton grown in Hertford.”
Hertford was chartered in 1756, making it one of the oldest towns in North Carolina. A newly painted mural downtown commemorates Hertford’s slice of Revolutionary War history: It depicts young Betsy Dowdy en route to warn the town of the approaching British soldiers. This mural is one part of Hertford’s larger ongoing revitalization. “Hertford sees a lot of local and community effort and kindness from the county,” Young says. “The county is very good with working with you; they want people to thrive. In Edenton, they don’t want Walmart or Lowe’s or any development, but Hertford has more of an open mind to development and creating a solid community.”
Single-family homes in Hertford
Hertford’s flat, gridded streets are lined with level, compact lots, which get bigger further from the center of town. Single-family homes include ranch-style, shotgun homes and new constructions. Homes were built from the 1800s to the present day, though most are from the 20th century. Prices range from about $90,000 to $490,000, depending on square footage, renovations and river access, with those closest to the river commanding the highest prices. Fixer-uppers start around $30,000.
Students are zoned for Perquimans County Schools
Perquimans County Schools, rated B-minus on Niche, serves the area. “It’s a really good school district; it was lagging, but it’s better now,” Young says. Students may begin at Perquimans Central School for prekindergarten through second grade, followed by Hertford Grammar School for grades three through five; both schools are rated B-plus. The public school pipeline continues with B-rated Perquimans County Middle School and B-minus-rated Perquimans County High. In 2025, the high school’s softball and baseball teams both made it to the 1A state championships. The baseball team also won state titles in 2021 and 2022.
Shopping and dining in Hertford
Church Street is the center of Hertford’s up-and-coming downtown scene. Church Street is home to bakeries, gift shops, antique shops and the Hertford State Theatre, which is slated for renovation after lying dormant for 60 years. When it comes to dining out, Story’s Seafood serves up fried fish, shrimp and hushpuppies in a casual setting. Shoppers can get groceries at DG Market and Food Lion. More retailers like Belk and Lowe’s Home Improvement, along with a variety of other shopping, dining and entertainment options, can be found in Elizabeth City.
Recreation along the Perquimans River
Missing Mill Park overlooks the Perquimans River a few blocks from downtown. It has a covered picnic pavilion and a playground in addition to a fishing pier, boardwalk and canoe launch. A bit further downriver is Perquimans County Recreation Center, where joggers and cyclists can exercise while admiring the fog rolling in or the blue sky reflected in the water. The rec center has facilities like a basketball court and an indoor pickleball area. It hosts adult group fitness classes and youth sports.
Occasional wind and rain in the Inner Banks
Hertford is part of North Carolina’s Inner Banks region, where the weather can get hot, humid and stormy. When it rains, ditches catch the runoff, but flooding is possible when the ground gets oversaturated. Trees help shield some parts of Hertford from strong winds. “The wooded places help to block bad weather,” Young says.
Navigating Hertford and Perquimans County
Hertford spans less than three square miles, and sidewalks throughout the town make it pedestrian-friendly. However, there are no public transit stops in town, so it is a car-dependent community for any trips out of town. U.S. Route 17 runs through the community, connecting it to Elizabeth City in the northeast direction, and about 13 miles southwest to ECU Health Chowan Hospital. Norfolk International Airport is about 60 miles north.
